August 26 is Women's Equality Day, celebrating the day when women got the right to vote in the U.S. And we... Show More »

August 26 is Women's Equality Day, celebrating the day when women got the right to vote in the U.S. And we've come a long, way, baby -- in real life, and on TV. These characters broke ground, blew minds, and showed the world just how powerful women can be. « Less

2/21

Lucy Ricardo, 'I Love Lucy':

Women aren't funny? Try telling that to Lucy Ricardo, and the audiences who loved her. Lucille Ball... Show More »

Women aren't funny? Try telling that to Lucy Ricardo, and the audiences who loved her. Lucille Ball's sitcom regularly tops lists of the best TV shows of all time. « Less

3/21

'The Cosby Show' mom Phylicia Rashad:

A Broadway actress commonly known as the TV mom on "The Cosby Show," Phylicia Rashad played a law... Show More »

A Broadway actress commonly known as the TV mom on "The Cosby Show," Phylicia Rashad played a lawyer and an all-knowing mother who could sing, too. Outside of the eight-year sitcom, she was the first African-American actress to win the Best Actress (Play) Tony Award for her 2004 performance as Lena Younger in a revival of "A Raisin in the Sun." « Less

4/21

Mary Richards, 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show':

Mary was a happily single career girl who wasn't looking for a man to support her. And... Show More »

Mary was a happily single career girl who wasn't looking for a man to support her. And you know what? She did, indeed, make it after all. « Less

5/21

Julia Baker, 'Julia':

Julia was one of the first African-American women on TV who wasn't a maid or a nanny. The widowed Julia rais... Show More »

Julia was one of the first African-American women on TV who wasn't a maid or a nanny. The widowed Julia raised her son and supported herself as a nurse. « Less

6/21

Emma Peel, 'The Avengers':

Martial-arts master. Genius. Feminist. Emma Peel is the prototypical strong female character -- she rescued ... Show More »

The limousine liberal was often mocked in the show, but you can't dismiss what a ground-breaking figure sh... Show More »

The limousine liberal was often mocked in the show, but you can't dismiss what a ground-breaking figure she was. Maude tackled abortion, pill-popping, alcoholism, nervous breakdowns... and the moral contortions a rich liberal has to go through when dealing with the help. « Less

8/21

Ann Romano, 'One Day at a Time':

Indianapolis to find herself. She also finds work as an ad rep, and finds all sorts of issues with her... Show More »

Indianapolis to find herself. She also finds work as an ad rep, and finds all sorts of issues with her two teenage daughters and her amorous building super. « Less

9/21

Christine Cagney and Mary Beth Lacey, 'Cagney & Lacey':

Hey, look! Two women working together, not competing! Cagney and Lacey fought c... Show More »

Hey, look! Two women working together, not competing! Cagney and Lacey fought crime and sexism -- and they boosted the number of women applying for police jobs across the country. « Less

10/21

Murphy Brown, 'Murphy Brown':

Murphy Brown's decision to have a child without the dad being involved sparked enough outrage that V... Show More »

Murphy Brown's decision to have a child without the dad being involved sparked enough outrage that Vice President Dan Quayle called her out in a political speech. The show made hay from that for years. « Less

The Golden Girls proved that life didn't end after the kids moved out -- and, as Blanche would happily tell you, sexy funtimes need not end just because you've passed menopause. « Less

12/21

Roseanne Conner, 'Roseanne':

In a world of cute, rich sitcom women, Roseanne stood out. She was working class, overweight, and an unapo... Show More »

In a world of cute, rich sitcom women, Roseanne stood out. She was working class, overweight, and an unapologetic feminist -- and if you didn't like that, it was fine with her. Audiences liked it -- Roseanne was at or near the top of the Nielsens for six seasons. « Less

13/21

Ally McBeal, 'Ally McBeal':

"Ally McBeal" prompted overblown headlines like "Is Feminism Dead?" Well, no -- short skirts and romantic p... Show More »

"Ally McBeal" prompted overblown headlines like "Is Feminism Dead?" Well, no -- short skirts and romantic plot lines did not signal the death of the women's movement. « Less

14/21

Dana Scully, 'The X-Files':

The network wanted a blonde bombshell to play against Fox Mulder -- and to set sparks flying between the pa... Show More »

The network wanted a blonde bombshell to play against Fox Mulder -- and to set sparks flying between the partners. But series creator Chris Carter fought for -- and got -- Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully, a smart, driven skeptic who played against all the stereotypes. It's impossible to imagine anyone else bringing the character to life. « Less

15/21

Ellen Morgan, 'Ellen':

When Ellen came out on her eponymous show in 1997, the nation clutched its pearl and critics succumbed to a fit ... Show More »

When Ellen came out on her eponymous show in 1997, the nation clutched its pearl and critics succumbed to a fit of the vapors. Apparently they got over it -- she's now got an immensely popular talk show, has hosted the Emmys and the Oscars, and serves as a spokesperson for J.C. Penney (despite disapproval from anti-gay groups). « Less

16/21

C.J. Cregg, 'The West Wing':

Whip-smart C.J. went from Press Secretary to Chief of Staff for the Bartlett administration, and woe to an... Show More »

Whip-smart C.J. went from Press Secretary to Chief of Staff for the Bartlett administration, and woe to anyone who underestimated her. « Less

17/21

Carrie Bradshaw, Samantha Jones, Charlotte York and Miranda Hobbes, 'Sex and the City':

Because yes, women -- even self-described good girls -- both have and enjoy sex. « Less

18/21

Buffy Summers, 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer':

Let's let her epitaph tell the story: "She saved the world. A lot." What's more, s... Show More »

Let's let her epitaph tell the story: "She saved the world. A lot." What's more, she lived to tell about it (yes, even after she died. These things happen in the Buffyverse.) « Less

19/21

Jane Tennison, 'Prime Suspect':

DCI Tennison had as much trouble with sexist colleagues as she did with actual criminals in the first s... Show More »

DCI Tennison had as much trouble with sexist colleagues as she did with actual criminals in the first series of the British show. But she solved her case -- and returned for six more series as the iconic detective. « Less

20/21

Brenda Leigh Johnson, 'The Closer':

Brenda Leigh owes more than a little to DCI Tennison -- but she confronts outmoded attitudes with S... Show More »

Brenda Leigh owes more than a little to DCI Tennison -- but she confronts outmoded attitudes with Southern sweetness that sheathes a core of pure steel. Never before has "Thank you, thank you so much" been so intimidating. « Less

21/21

Liz Lemon, '30 Rock' and Leslie Knope, 'Parks and Recreation':

More than 50 years after Lucy proved the "women just aren'... Show More »

More than 50 years after Lucy proved the "women just aren't funny" crowd wrong, we're still hearing that ovaries and humor are incompatible. Liz and Leslie (and the actresses behind them, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler) would beg to differ. « Less